All-Star Fever Read Online Free Page B

singled.
    Then Sparrow threw three strikes for the second out. But the next batter blasted a double. Men on second and third, two out.
    The crowd was shouting their encouragement to both teams as Sparrow let the next pitch fly. But their cheers couldn’t drown
     out the sound of bat connecting with ball. A hard-hit baseball shot toward Bus. If he missed this catch, at least one man
     would score. Maybe two.
    He had only a second to react. Up shot his glove. The ball hit so hard, it made the palm of his hand sting. But he had caught
     it!
    The game ended with the score reading Mudders 5, Bulls 3.
    Bus was congratulated by all his teammates and Coach Parker. He hadn’t felt so good for a long time.
    Only one thing can top this,
he thought as he hopped on his bicycle to ride home.
And that would be getting a call from the All-Star scouts tonight!
    He had started to pedal away when he heard a loud
woof
from the stands. He looked up and saw two familiar faces grinning down at him. It was the brown dog and the man who had fixed
     his bike! The man waved but disappeared into the crowd before Bus had a chance to get near him.
    I wonder who the heck he was,
Bus thought.
Sure wish I could thank him again.
     

     
    Instead, Bus called out to T.V. to wait for him. Together, the two boys rode home.
    It wasn’t until later that night that Bus found out who the strange man was. He and his parents had just finished eating dinner
     when the doorbell rang. Bus answered it.
    “Coach Parker! What are you doing here?” he asked.
    Bus stepped aside to let Coach Parker and a second man in. He almost fell back in surprise when he saw who the second man
     was.
    “Hello, Bus,” the man said with a grin. “Bet you didn’t expect to see me again.”
    Before Bus had a chance to answer, Coach Parker interrupted. “I think an introduction is in order. James Crandall, meet Bus
     Mercer. Bus Mercer, meet James Crandall — head scout for the county All-Star team.”
    Bus just stared, open-mouthed.
    Bus’s parents came into the room. “What’s this all about?” his father asked.
    “I wanted to talk to Bus face-to-face about the rosters for the All-Star team,” Mr. Crandall said. He turned to Bus and laid
     a hand on his shoulder. “Bus, you’re a fine shortstop. But I’m afraid there are two shortstops in the county who have better
     statistics than you. We had to choose those two players for the All-Star squad.
    “However,” he added before Bus had a chance to react, “you showed me something in today’s game that impressed me. You showed
     you’re not afraid to admit when you’ve made some mistakes, and you’re willing to work to correct them. Bus, I would very much
     like for you to accept the position of substitute shortstop for the team.”
    Bus looked up, confused. “Substitute?”
    Mr. Crandall explained, “If for some reason one of the other two shortstops couldn’t play in a game or missed too many practices
     or something like that, you would play for the team in his or her place. As a substitute,you would practice with the team, get a uniform, and be at every game. Your name would be listed with all the other team members.
     You might even get a chance to play in one of the games. What do you say?”
    Bus didn’t even have to think about it. “When do we start?” he asked eagerly.
    The four adults laughed. Then Coach Parker and Mr. Crandall said they had to be going.
    After they left, Mr. and Mrs. Mercer gave Bus a big hug. “We’re so proud of you, Bus. It’s not every parent who has a good
     athlete
and
a good sport for a son.”
    Bus grinned. “And the best thing is, I have something to shoot for next year! Look out, All-Star team! Bus Mercer hasn’t given
     up yet!”

The Peach Street Mudders return in another action-packed adventure!
    Bus Mercer, shortstop for the Peach Street Mudders baseball team, would give his right arm to be picked for the county All-Star
     team. And except for one error, his